The Ridgecrest Planning Commission at their June 24 meeting had a preliminary discussion about the pros and cons of a China Lake Boulevard/Highway 178 bypass.

“We might point out to the commission that this is very, very, very preliminary,” City Planner Matthew Alexander said, adding that “before we go anywhere we thought it would be wise to go to the planning commission and get your response.”

Alexander explained the situation. “As you know, China Lake Boulevard, it seems like every year it handles more and more traffic ... it’s a lot of cars going back and forth.”

“When we did the Ridgecrest general plan, the requirement was that we do a number of elements,” Alexander said. The land use element was the most highly publicized, he said.

“The No. 2 element requirement is called a circulation element,” Alexander said, adding that “the circulation element involves not only the regional future circulation but one for the city’s planning area.

“And if we are to do our jobs as being sensitive and thoughtful planners we should be looking into the future, and so that future may mean at some point in time traffic volumes are going to be so high on China Lake [Boulevard] that it’s going to justify a bypass.”

Plans for the bypass are not exact. The bypass would be “largely on DoD land” east of China Lake Boulevard, according to the agenda item. It might “skirt the fence,” the idea being to “generally run a bypass to China Lake and meet up at Inyokern,” Alexander said.

Alexander emphasized that he was simply soliciting general comments to determine whether there was sufficient interest to move forward with the idea. The mechanism for doing so would be to amend the Circulation Element of the General Plan, he said.

Although Chairman Chris LeCornu, Vice Chairman Robert OBergfell, and Commissioners Scott Davis and Wade Tallman considered the issue, all agreed that more information was necessary before coming to any sort of conclusion. Commissioner Matt Baudhuin was absent.

“It would just seem like we would need some more numbers to even think about it,” he said.

“I’m never going to see this happen in my lifetime; this is advanced planning,” Alexander said. “All over America for probably the last hundred years, since the automobile became the favorite mode of transportation in small towns all over the country, there would be a hue and cry whenever there was going to be a bypass, and for one reason or another those communities have all survived.”

Page 2 of 2 - LeCornu said that he thought a bypass could potentially affect business on China Lake Boulevard.

“It’s not about burgers and fries, its about the economics of our small town,” he said. “Our town grows when the base grows ... it’s grown a lot because the base has grown a lot but I don’t see Ridgecrest growing exponentially, and I know that we want to remain partially a small town but I just don’t like the thought of diverting traffic since I know just instinctually as a human being I’m going to want to take that route.

“Its human routine, and routine is what drives business.”

OBergfell took a balanced approach. He agreed with Tallman that the previous traffic survey was not enough to back up a decision at this time. He suggested more research.

“I’m not against progress of any kind, especially if it benefits the city ... I would never vote to take anything out of the hands of the local businesses, but I’d also like to be open to the future and I could see where Mr. Alexander is making a point,” he said. “Having also worked traffic on that, it’s a busy road.”

“My thoughts are very similar,” Scott Davis said. “You have to be very sensitive to the businesses along the way and that’s a scary thing. At the same time you have to look at the benefit. If things are really that busy and there can be a significant benefit we have to weight that against the cost.

“It’s an interesting thought, and I think it deserves a look, but I’d be really nervous about it and would want to have some really good solid numbers to validate going forward with it.”

Tallman seemed to sum up the consensus, saying the group needs “a whole lot more number crunching and looking at the big picture” and “I’m thinking we should do some more checking, more research, and press forward.”

City Engineer Loren Culp also gave a roadway construction progress report and update. Culp reported on the meeting with local merchants on June 10 on the Ridgecrest Boulevard project, which he called “very productive.” He also reported on current construction projects. (See press release in this edition.)

The commission approved a conditional use amateur radio tower permit.

The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on July 8 on the proposed Median Art Program for China Lake Boulevard. Everyone is welcome to attend.